That is how my body feels right now.  There has been sludge resting deep down within...perhaps related to things that have happened in the past...perhaps not...maybe it's someone else's sludge and I've decided to own it (not a good idea to do by the way). I'm not looking to identify with the sludge.  My identity rests in the clear and sparkling clean water that is already present in my body, pushing up the sledge from deep within -- and now additional water being poured in -- water is a symbol of Truth.   When Truth is present, anything less than the truth begins to be repelled and purged.  

The physical purge brings with it the emotional and mental metallic shavings left from years of acquired feelings of shame, guilt, remorse, resentment and other not so lovely human nature tendencies. Truth, like a magnet, begins to pull at those metallic shavings, bringing them to the surface.  It's been and continues to be an interesting experience. It's not something easily explained, but I trust that those reading this blog have had or are having similar experiences and can relate to some degree.

Yes, I could say that my physical body has experienced the respiratory flu, that my body continues to feel the immensity of the congestion centered in chest, throat and head (energetically and vibrationally that would be my 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th chakras.)  And yet amidst the troublesome congestion, I also feel the tremendous sense of self-healing.  It's just so easy to say, "Ugh, I'm still sick".  I find those words repulsive.  Habit. Conditioned response. 

It's a new year and a new me.  The focus need not be on what ails me (which, as I've mentioned, is too often the easy route to take), but in what is creatively present in the form of healing and transformation.

I am open to releasing what no longer serves my purpose on Earth.  And so the great purge continues.  Hallelujah.

It will be a joy to get fully present into my Nia practice again -- my next class will be Tuesday, January 17th at 5:30 p.m.  Join me in Dancing Through Life...wherever you might find yourself!

I noticed that I haven't posted on my blog since before Thanksgiving of 2011.  In one respect, this is a good thing since it means that we truly had a prosperous season in our business -- thus my not having any time to blog!  On the other hand, one can fool oneself into thinking one is "too busy" to take the time to stay connected to the pulse of the Universe.  Whatever the reason for not blogging since Thanksgiving, it's a New Year and my intention is to blog more frequently.  

The name of this blog is "A Joyful Dance", which refers specifically to Nia (www.nianow.com), but also in general to the creative dance of life.  It is truly a joyful dance to be intricately involved in creating my world and to have my creativity flow through the beautiful principles of Nia.  Most of what I will be blogging about in 2012 will be related to the Science, Craft and Art of Nia -- my sacred livelihood.

However, on this first day of the new 2012 year, I'd like to give thanks to the Universe for having brought a new kitten, Gloria, into our household.  We still don't know where she came from -- she wandered on to our deck on a snowy day this past December.  It was cold, windy and sleeting.  She was too scared to let us near her, so we built her a little house on the deck, covered with blankets and tarps.  She came out to eat twice a day. She is ever so tiny.  On Christmas Eve, the clouds parted and the sun came out, warming the temps up into the 40s.  She came out of her house to sit in the sun.  My husband and I decided to see if we could lure her with tuna into the warmth of our house.  We succeeded.  She has been with us since Christmas Eve.  She's still a little frightened of loud noises or quick movements, but she's come to trust that she will have enough food, water and love.  She allows me to pet her and pick her up.  My husband is not allowed those privileges yet.  Her fur is matted, but we've been able to pick out the burrs and to some degree the mats.  We've taken her to the vet where she received her first rabies and distemper shots, along with deworming.  The vet feels she is older than the 2-3 months that her physical presence would suggest.  She has her adult incisors. She is so very tiny though.

So our lives, and those of our other two cats, are now intertwined with this little furry creature that we call Gloria.  Let the dance begin.

Welcome to 2012.